About

Milia removal

Milia are a collection of small white spots commonly known as milk spots.

Though common among young babies, they can occur in adults and become permanent. While they aren’t a medical risk, many people with milia would prefer to remove them for cosmetic reasons.

Milia are often mistaken for whiteheads, which can cause attempts to scratch or squeeze them. In fact, milia are tiny cysts located immediately below the epidermis, the very outer layer of skin, making their distinctive coloring so visible. The white comes from an excess build-up of keratin, a natural part of the skin, also found in nails and hair.

Some people are genetically prone to developing milia spots. Still, they are most often caused by the use of skin care products and cosmetics that contain heavy oils, particularly mineral oil or lanolin.

Treatment methods

The most common type of milia removal is performed using a disposable sterile needle. Once the skin with milia has been cleaned, a needle is then used to create a tiny incision in the skin covering the cyst, and the contents of the milia are carefully extracted so as not to cause any trauma to the skin.

Certain types of milia may not be suitable for this type of removal and may need to be treated using a thermolysis device. Thermolysis works by cauterizing the skin covering the milia by using tiny electrical pulses then allowing the contents to be extracted.